Category: General Interest

For those who don’t want to miss out on celebrating Christmas together with relatives, there is an opportunity to get tested in all federal states. The test lanes are open from Monday at the latest – some with, some without registration. All people who live or work in Vienna can come to the Austria Center and get tested for free. The appointment for this is available either online or by phone via the health phone 1450. An appointment is necessary because they expect an increased rush before and during the…

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Allergic reactions have occurred in five cases in the U.S. this week following administration of Biontech and Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine. This was announced by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yesterday (local time). FDA expert Peter Marks said the culprit may be the chemical polyethylene glycol. It is a component of both the Biontech/Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, he said. Immunizations with the Biontech/Pfizer vaccine have been ongoing since Monday, and the Moderna vaccine is expected to be used starting early next week. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration yesterday…

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Interior Minister Nehammer wants to use hundreds of additional officers to control the tightened entry regulations at Christmas. To curb the further spread of COVID-19 in Austria, the Federal Council approved a new Health Ministry regulation on December 17, 2020, on entry into Austria in connection with the containment of SARS-CoV-2. “As in previous months, Austria’s police continue to provide support to the health authorities at their request during health-related entry controls,” said Interior Minister Karl Nehammer (ÖVP). In order to have sufficient executive officers available over the Christmas holidays,…

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The government on Friday went into reverse gear in the face of persistently high new infections and announced a new lockdown after Christmas. Christmas can still take place “as planned,” but measures will be tightened again from Dec. 26, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said. Commerce and body-related services will be closed until January 18, and restaurants and hotels will also remain closed. All-day curfew restrictions will again apply – including on New Year’s Eve. Neither public nor private fireworks are to be approved.The lockdown will last even longer – until 24…

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According to current knowledge, the Covid-19 vaccination is also safe for allergy sufferers. This was emphasized by AG Allergologie and the Austrian Society of Dermatology and Venereology (ÖGDV). mRNA vaccines – such as those from Biontech/Pfizer and Moderna – transmit the blueprint for a viral antigen to the body, which is then produced in cells and causes immunization. “The side effects that have become known in the approval studies are frequent, expectable, mild as well as limited in time,” says Wolfram Hötzenecker, chairman of the AG Allergologie; the population needs…

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Italy to become red zone from Dec. 24, media sayThe Italian government is planning further CoV restrictions for the Christmas holidays. For example, the whole of Italy is to be declared a red zone on holidays and weekends from December 24 to January 6. This will mean that stores and restaurants will remain closed and freedom of travel will be severely restricted. The Council of Ministers will adopt a decree to this effect this evening, Italian media reported. On the other days, Italy will be classified as an orange zone…

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Shortly before the holidays, many people want to quickly check if they are COVID 19 positive or not.. Where this is still possible at the last minute and what you should consider when testing. An overview: In Vienna, there is probably the largest free test offer. Shortly before Christmas, the city drew up a test strategy for the holidays. The three test roads – at Happel Stadium, at the Austria Center and on the Danube Island – will also be operated over the holidays. Each test street will have a…

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The coronavirus vaccine of the US biotech company Moderna is about to receive emergency approval in the USA. The vaccine cleared the decisive hurdle yesterday: The independent vaccine advisory committee of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) came out in favor of approval. The FDA is expected to approve the vaccine shortly on the basis of this recommendation. This would make it the second Covid 19 vaccine available in the United States. A week ago, the vaccine from Mainz-based biotech firm Biontech and its U.S. partner Pfizer had already…

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The Austrian government is optimistic that soon the first citizens can be vaccinated with the vaccine against the corona virus. Exactly when the first shipment will arrive, however, is an open question. Corona vaccination is picking up speed: EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen announced Thursday on the short-message service Twitter that vaccination will begin within the European Union on Dec. 27. “We protect our citizens together,” she wrote. The German government had previously said it expected that the first vaccinations against the corona virus in Austria could possibly…

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